DNA analysis uncovers Hitler's hidden medical condition, stunning researchers
Scientists revealed a shocking truth about Hitler thanks to his DNA (photo: Getty Images)
You may think you know the dictator's story, but an analysis of DNA taken from the sofa where he died has uncovered an unexpected medical secret. Adolf Hitler likely suffered from a genetic syndrome that could explain his discomfort in relationships and his lack of children. What scientists managed to uncover about Hitler and his secrets is reported by Metro and the documentary "Hitler's DNA: Blueprint Of A Dictator."
For years, the phrase "Hitler has only got one ball" has circulated among the public, but now researchers claim these notorious lines may contain a deeper grain of truth.
An analysis of DNA taken from the sofa where Adolf Hitler died suggests that he may have suffered from a rare genetic disorder. This condition disrupts puberty, lowers testosterone levels and sex drive, and can also lead to a micropenis.
Kallmann syndrome: A medical diagnosis based on DNA
After analyzing a fragment of Hitler's DNA, researchers discovered that the dictator had Kallmann syndrome. Dr. Alex Kay, a historian at the University of Potsdam in Germany, noted that this diagnosis may provide answers to long-standing assumptions about Hitler's personal life.
According to Kay, no one had ever been able to explain why Hitler felt so uncomfortable around women throughout his life, or why he likely never engaged in intimate relationships. Researchers believe Hitler may never have had sexual relations because of this condition.
The image of Hitler as a strong man devoted only to his country could have been a convenient cover, the historian explained. The murderous dictator had no family or children and kept his private life and medical history strictly secret.
What is known about Kallmann syndrome
Kallmann syndrome is a genetic disorder first noted in 1856, but named after Franz Josef Kallmann in 1944.
It affects the production of hormones responsible for sexual development and sense of smell, and can delay or prevent puberty. The syndrome affects men more often than women.
Symptoms may appear in childhood or adulthood and include infertility, a small penis and testes, absence of menstruation or breast development in women, low sex drive, loss of smell, balance problems, dental abnormalities, and weight gain.
Kallmann syndrome can be treated with hormone replacement therapy after diagnosis, including testosterone injections, estrogen and progesterone tablets, and hCG injections.
Controversies and secrets of the dictator
Although Hitler's biographer insisted that Hitler and his longtime girlfriend and future wife Eva Braun had a "normal" intimate life, the couple's 14-year relationship ended with their marriage just 40 hours before their joint suicide on April 30, 1945.
The Nazi despot was deeply hypocritical. While promoting a healthy lifestyle among his followers and maintaining a vegetarian diet, Hitler reportedly regularly used drugs such as oxycodone, methamphetamine, morphine, and cocaine.
Most of Hitler's medical records and details of his personal life remained a mystery, fueling rumors that the dictator might have had Jewish ancestry. However, DNA analysis compared with a male-line relative disproved these rumors and the false narratives that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, likely spread by his political opponents.
Hitler's secrets were uncovered thanks to an American soldier who cut off a piece of the bloodstained sofa on which Hitler killed himself and kept it as a souvenir.
The American soldier, Colonel Roswell Rosengren, an information officer under the command of Supreme Allied Commander General Eisenhower, was the man who inadvertently preserved Hitler's DNA.
Dan Chambers, creative director at Blink Films, noted that for the first time, DNA research has made it possible to uncover a whole range of things about Hitler that are both expected and truly astonishing.
Dictator's psychological condition
Some historians believe Hitler was predisposed to mental illness. The DNA analysis results were sent to a team of scientists at Aarhus University in Denmark to assess his genetic predisposition to mental and neurodevelopmental disorders.
The tests showed that he had a higher-than-average risk of developing ADHD, and he was among the top 1% of people at the highest risk of autism, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia (hereditary conditions).
His third cousin, Aloisia Veit, spent years in a psychiatric hospital in Vienna. Due to hallucinations and delusional behavior, she was often tied to her bed.
"You can see here the distribution of the score for schizophrenia in the population, and you can see that Hitler is located in the very end of the distribution. He has a very high... score for schizophrenia," said Ditte Demontis, a psychiatric geneticist at Aarhus.
The analysis also showed that he had a high genetic predisposition to antisocial behavior, which is a factor in determining whether someone is a psychopath.
"I think that we're quite entitled to use "criminal autistic psychopathy" to describe Hitler. It highlights: number one, his criminality; number two, his autism; and number three, his psychopathy. It's a very complex mixture. Hitler is one in a million, or maybe one in a billion," said writer and psychiatrist Michael Fitzgerald.
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